TV comic Ross Noble is set to headline a huge night of comedy at in July as the showpiece event of this year’s Black Country Festival.

The Geordie, who has appeared on the likes of Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You and QI, will be supported by local acts at Brierley Hill Civic Hall on Black Country Day – Friday, July 14.

Ross, aged 40, has built a huge following through his largely improvised live shows and has nearly one million followers on Twitter, meaning tickets – which are now on sale – are expected to be snapped up quickly.

He will be supported on the night by Jonny Cole, from Wednesbury, Darren Harriott, from Oldbury, and Mike Crump, from Dudley, while holding things together as MC will be Dudley comic Wayne Beese.

Musical comedian Jonny has built a huge following in the Black Country with songs including ‘Fat Face’ and ‘I Found Love In The Black Country’ going down a storm with audiences all over the region.

Darren was last year snapped up by a big London agency which also manages the likes of Micky Flanagan and Mark Watson, and after appearances on Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central, he has been tipped for big things.

Mike is also an actor – another touted as a future star – and he is known for playing one of the lead roles in Danny and The Human Zoo, the feature length BBC drama filmed in Dudley and based on the life of Lenny Henry.

As MC on the night, Wayne is the regular host of the popular Live At The Civic nights at the civic hall and was described by British comedy star Joe Lycett recently as “one of the sharpest comperes I have ever had the pleasure of working with”.

Steve Edwards, chairman of the Black Country Festival committee, said: “The Black Country Festival is all about celebrating everything that is great about where we come from.

“Black Country folk are renowned for having a great sense of humour. We hope they will support this fantastic event on Black Country Day.

“Getting Ross Noble is a massive coup for us. He is a huge name in the world of comedy and one of the very best acts not just in this country but in the world.

“We wanted to give the very best acts from the Black Country the chance to support him and showcase what they can do on a big stage in front of hundreds of people.”

Tickets, priced at £22 each, are available at www.bhillcivic.co.uk/whats-on/comedy